Tail of the Dragon

by Timothy Reihm

  Chapter 36

  Two years had passed since Aralim was defeated in the bocket championship, but when Ariel learned that his choir team had again made the finals he promised himself that he would be there for support. Fortunately, Araton agreed that it would be good for him to go, and changed the time of his advanced specialized training final exam to the morning before the event.

  The examination turned out to be quite easy. He attributed this to Araton's thorough instruction, as well as his experiences of the last two years. During his basic specialized training year they visited no less than two hundred worlds, most of them already possessing viable ecosystems with higher life forms and vibrant cultures. On each of these visits Araton had shown him the immaculate balance required to maintain these complex combinations in one unified working system. Ariel was able to apply this knowledge during his advanced training, when they concentrated on seed planets, those that were being prepared for a future creation event. The final exam tested his competency of the various planetary life interactions, and having first-hand experience with them paid off in the form of a nearly perfect score.

  He wasn’t through with his current mentor, of course. He and Araton would be together for another year during his preceptorship, one in which he would be put in charge of his own projects on a seed planet, with Araton supervising his activities. But that was just over a week away. He would attend the end of sixth year ceremony and receive the diamond sword, the culminating piece to his armor. He also planned to witness the new telmid creation and today's championship match.

  Immediately after completing his exam and receiving his score, he headed to the Falls Path, north of the city. Flying over the course where he competed in three championships, winning two, brought back a wave of memories. He looked down, remembering the now infamous kick that he made to secure their first championship, and the drama that ensued as a result. He recalled the excitement he and Gadreel shared as they hoisted the beautiful Choir Chalice to the cheers of his choir mates, not once but twice. He also remembered the disappointment of their loss at the end of fourth year, his last on the team, along with the disconnect that subsequently developed between him and his best friend.

  The distance between them grew during the past two years of specialized training. He still ran into Gadreel on occasion, but things were different, as was apparent when they saw each other and attempted more than a brief and superficial conversation.

  This was the main reason that he returned to the famous Falls Path. He wanted to be there to support his friend. He was currently their number two, and Ariel wanted him to know that he was there to root him on.

  The crowds were already thick when he arrived, but his status as a former team member allowed him to walk on the path itself and avoid the overly crowded spectator viewing areas. There was a small warm-up area adjacent to the first path where players prepared for their matches. As he approached, he spotted his old friend, dressed in the green of Aralim. Next to him were two arella he recognized, wearing the blue of Cherubim.

  ‘Gadreel,’ he called out.

  The three of them turned toward him.

  ‘Helel. Molochel.’

  Molochel ignored him completely, but Helel moved purposely forward. His face had changed. He was still handsome, with piercing, dark eyes, but somehow he looked harder. His angularity was even more pronounced and the slight smirk on his mouth seemed to imply that he knew all there was to know about you.

  'So Ariel has returned. I understand that you are working under Araton, traveling the wide universe.'

  'I've been fortunate enough to travel to a great many planets. It has been an amazing experience and Araton has been wonderful to study under.'

  'So, Ariel,' Helel asked. 'What can you tell us about the happenings out there? Most of us don't travel widely and must rely on those who return to share what is going on. Is it true about the uprisings?'

  'I have heard stories about minor disturbances on a few worlds, but I'm not sure they would be considered uprisings,' Ariel answered.

  'That is interesting, although not consistent with the reports I've seen. So these minor disturbances that you mention, what is the cause?'

  'I really try to stay out of politics, but it is my understanding that a few angels on a couple of worlds acted improperly and were removed from their positions.'

  'So they were punished for acting according to their own free will?' Helel asked with a slightly raised eyebrow.

  'I doubt that you and I will agree on this, but I don't think that when your freedom to act interferes with others, particularly those who you are sworn to protect, it can be considered free will. That is chaos, which inhibits everyone's freedom,' Ariel answered a bit curtly.

  'For someone who stays out of politics, you seem to well informed on the cases you mention, or are you speaking generally?'

  'I am speaking generally, Helel.'

  'So you are assuming that those accused were, as you say, interfering with others, but you really don't know anything about what actually happened in those minor disturbances,' Helel retorted dismissively.

  He waved to Molochel and the two started away. As he brushed past Ariel, he quietly asked, 'Did you play with any snakes on those worlds?' and walked away without glancing back.

  Ariel turned back to Gadreel after the two left.

  ‘Ariel, I am glad to see you made it.’

  ‘Wouldn’t miss it for anything. Best of luck today. Bring that chalice back to its rightful owners, OK?’

  ‘I will certainly try.’

  What should he say next? He had so many issues he would discuss with Gadreel, but Helel's comment left him unsure. And the relative lack of contact between he and his best friend over the past couple years made him feel like some sort of wall separated them. He thought of all the times that he had wished Gadreel were present to share his experiences with. He kept a notebook of his travels and starred certain things so that he would be able to tell Gadreel about them, but now he stood blankly, not knowing where to begin.

  ‘Well, I just wanted to be here to pull for you. Kick it well.’

  Ariel walked away mulling over the interaction. Didn't he have anything better to say? Was it possible he couldn't even talk with his best friend?

  ‘Ariel, wait up.’

  Gadreel jogged up behind him. Ariel turned and faced him.

  ‘Sure. What’s going on?’

  ‘Look, I really missed you and would like to catch up. I'm starting soon, but I hope we can get together this week before our preceptorships start. You know, just to talk about what has been going on.’

  ‘That sounds great,’ Ariel answered.

  ‘Hey, would you mind if Fang tags along with you today? He almost cost me a match earlier this year when he tried to fetch one of my kicks.’

  Ariel smiled at the image of the playful tiger running out onto the path in the middle of a match.

  ‘Of course I wouldn’t mind. Where is he?’

  Gadreel whistled loudly and the huge beast came sprinting up to him out of a nearby stand of trees.

  ‘Maybe you could drive him back to the mansion after the match, too? I rode here with Helel and Molochel and I don’t think they were too thrilled at being squeezed in by this big guy.’

  ‘I'll give you a ride if you want.’

  ‘Thanks, but I'm meeting Helel and Molochel after the match for dinner at the western gate. We are going to that place we went during first year, remember?’

  ‘Yes I do. That seems like such a long time ago.’

  ‘Hey, if you aren't busy you could join us.’

  ‘Let me think about it.’

  ‘OK, Ariel. It was good seeing you again. I wish you were out here playing with me. Doesn’t seem right.’

  ‘Me too, and it was nice being seen. Good luck again, though I know you don’t need it.’

  Ariel went to the viewing area adjacent to the fifteenth path, so that he could see Gadreel finish. He would be able to keep track of Gad
reel's progress via the scoreboard and didn't want to risk walking the paths with the sabre-tooth, in case the cat decided to repeat his earlier tricks. He set off up the path, cut into the side of the sheer rock face that connected the various viewing areas. Fang dutifully followed at his heels and he stopped frequently to rub the soft fur of the cat's head.

  He considered Gadreel's dinner invitation. He desperately wanted to speak with his old friend, but would they be able to talk with the others present? He didn’t understand how Gadreel could be close friends with those two. It seemed emblematic of the growing gulf between them.

  ‘Ariel? Is that you?’

  He turned toward the familiar voice. There in front of him was an arella dressed in Malakim yellow with a disorderly mass of ginger curls on his head.

  ‘Raphy! How are you doing my old friend?’

  ‘Wow, it has been way too long! It doesn't seem right that you’re not playing. I seem to remember watching you beat my choir a few times back in the day. What are you doing now? What is your specialty?’

  Ariel filled him in on advanced training and his life of travel with Araton. Raphael talked about the research that he was involved in. Eventually the conversation turned to Gadreel.

  'Things have definitely changed between us. I'm not exactly sure how it happened. And it appears that he and Helel are much closer,' Ariel said.

  ‘Of course you know why they are such good friends, right?’ Raphael asked.

  ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Do you remember when you came to me about the secret meetings at Azazel's estate? I told you that we should let it play out, but I was wrong. Those meetings are no longer secret, and no one has done anything to stop them. Haven't you heard any news about what's been going on?’

  ‘What news? Araton and I were gone nearly every day this year, and I've been so involved in my work that I haven't heard anything.’

  ‘Helel completely took over the meetings and they are growing. They ignore rules about the appropriate use of elemental power and becoming incredibly skilled, to a point that anyone not participating is considered quite amateurish in their abilities. As more arella began seeing how much more powerful the members of the group were, more and more asked to join. It has become quite a large force and now they are taking it further. Helel is talking of sending a delegation to initiate discussion with the three Kings about some of the restrictions placed on the telmid. They want to discuss possible alterations to the rules.’

  ‘What rules? What restrictions do we have on us?’

  ‘A host of issues, though most of them seem vague. Things like non-defensive powers and what we are free to do upon earning our wings. I admit I don’t know the specifics, but they are attracting quite a lot of attention. Lots of arella are excited by the possibility of learning new skills and having the freedom to do whatever they want. There has been no word from the three Kings on the subject, but I doubt they will delay much longer. The numbers of those supporting Helel are growing to a point that makes it impossible to ignore.’

  ‘Is Gadreel involved?’

  ‘Of course, Ariel. He is basically Helel's second-in-command. He is seen by most at the academy as nearly as important as Helel himself.'

  Ariel’s heart sunk at this news. So his friend had been converted by those ‘harmless’ talks at the secret meetings. He was stupid as to go along with him joining? If only he they hadn't spied on their housemates years ago. He needed to do something. He would address this. Nothing good would come from this, and surely Gadreel would see reason.

  They followed the match together and it was great to spend time with an old friend, but Ariel was too distracted to fully focus on their conversation. Raphael seemed to understand and eventually excused himself after soliciting a promise that the two would get together prior to Ariel's coming departure.

  As the day unfolded, it became clear that Aralim was over-matched. With two pairings to go, they faced an insurmountable deficit. The final two competitors, Gadreel and Bindolin, were both ahead in their matches, but the championship was already decided. Their opponents, learning of the score, conceded, and it was over. It was so anticlimactic and, to Ariel's mind, so irrelevant. He remembered how important this all had seemed to both he and Gadreel. As his friend grasped arms with the members of the other team, he saw that Gadreel felt the same way.

  After the formalities were dispensed with, Ariel approached his old friend.

  'Tough ending to your bocket career?'

  'Yeah, but to be honest, it just doesn't seem as important as it used to,' Gadreel answered.

  'Perspective changes with time, I guess. Listen, I appreciate the dinner invitation, but I'm going to take Fang back to the estate and rest a bit. I'm exhausted and need to sort some things out. You won't be offended if I don't join you and the others, will you?'

  'It's OK. I understand,' Gadreel said.

  'Listen. Our old place should be empty. The next origin day isn't for a week and the first years are all placed. Do you want to head over there with some of our original crew tomorrow? Maybe you and I could ride over together and spend some time catching up,' Ariel suggested.

  'Great idea. That'll be fun. I will mention it to Pharzel and Helel. Can you contact the others?'

  'Sounds like a plan.'

  Ariel turned to go, then hesitated, turning back toward Gadreel.

  'It is good to see you, old friend. I missed you!'